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Queen of Apostles SchoolQueen of Apostles School

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In 1957, Archbishop In 1957, Archbishop DuhigDuhig asked Fr asked Fr Michael Carew to establish a parish in Michael Carew to establish a parish in Stafford. The Archbishop already had Stafford. The Archbishop already had land available on land available on SparkesSparkes Hill but the Hill but the

Brisbane City Council wanted the land to Brisbane City Council wanted the land to build a reservoir for the area. Archbishop build a reservoir for the area. Archbishop DuhigDuhig then bought 4 acres 34.5 perches then bought 4 acres 34.5 perches from the top of Mrs Frances from the top of Mrs Frances KeongKeong’’ss 45 45

acre property on Stafford Road.acre property on Stafford Road.


In 1957, 255 people In 1957, 255 people

attended the first attended the first

mass held in a candy mass held in a candy

striped tent pitched on striped tent pitched on

the site of the school the site of the school

oval on 28th April oval on 28th April

1957.1957.


In 1960, construction commenced on a In 1960, construction commenced on a

four class school block of timber on brick. four class school block of timber on brick.

This is now the current Year Three This is now the current Year Three

classroom block. It was ready for the classroom block. It was ready for the

1961 school year but no teaching sisters 1961 school year but no teaching sisters

could be found for the school.could be found for the school.


Cardinal Gilroy had recently appealed to Cardinal Gilroy had recently appealed to

religious orders to send teachers to Asia religious orders to send teachers to Asia

and Papua New Guinea which had and Papua New Guinea which had

opened up to outside influence since opened up to outside influence since

World War 11. The Sisters of Mercy, the World War 11. The Sisters of Mercy, the

Franciscans and Good Samaritan Sisters Franciscans and Good Samaritan Sisters

responded to his request leaving a responded to his request leaving a

shortage of staff in Brisbane during a shortage of staff in Brisbane during a

period of rapid growth in schools.period of rapid growth in schools.


Rescue came in the form of the Sisters of Rescue came in the form of the Sisters of

the Holy Family of Nazareth, whose first the Holy Family of Nazareth, whose first

arrivals to Sydney in 1952 had been head arrivals to Sydney in 1952 had been head

hunted by Archbishop hunted by Archbishop DuhigDuhig for the for the

parishes of Kalinga and Bowen Hills.parishes of Kalinga and Bowen Hills.


Archbishop Archbishop DuhigDuhig visited the sisters at visited the sisters at

Kalinga and in a matter of days had Kalinga and in a matter of days had

secured their services for the school.secured their services for the school.


The American vice The American vice ––consul and 350 people consul and 350 people

attended the blessing and opening of the attended the blessing and opening of the

school by Archbishop school by Archbishop DuhigDuhig in January in January

1962.1962.


190 students started in grades 1, 2 and 3 with 190 students started in grades 1, 2 and 3 with

three sisters, Sr three sisters, Sr AdriaAdria, Sr Bernadette and Sr , Sr Bernadette and Sr

Pius and one lay teacher Mrs Eileen Cameron Pius and one lay teacher Mrs Eileen Cameron

who had taught at Padua when it opened in who had taught at Padua when it opened in

1956.1956.


For most of the first year, some mothers of For most of the first year, some mothers of

the parish ferried the sisters to and from the parish ferried the sisters to and from

Kalinga by car. In his enthusiasm, Kalinga by car. In his enthusiasm,

Archbishop Archbishop DuhigDuhig had promised to have had promised to have

the convent opened in six weeks, but it the convent opened in six weeks, but it

wasnwasn’’t until August before the convent was t until August before the convent was

completed. By 1966, there were 11 nuns completed. By 1966, there were 11 nuns

on staff at the school.on staff at the school.


In January 1963, the wing next to the In January 1963, the wing next to the

assembly hall was opened so that there assembly hall was opened so that there

could be one each of grade 3 and 4 and could be one each of grade 3 and 4 and

two each of grades 1 and 2. two each of grades 1 and 2.


While there was room, preschoolers were While there was room, preschoolers were

accepted in 1963 and 1964. The rapid accepted in 1963 and 1964. The rapid

growth of the school population reached growth of the school population reached

its peak in 1967 when there were over 700 its peak in 1967 when there were over 700

children on the roll. children on the roll.


By then, in 1965 a third block of three By then, in 1965 a third block of three

classrooms had been built and in 1969 the classrooms had been built and in 1969 the

first classes were taken at first classes were taken at ChuterChuter Street. Street.

In 1974, two demountables were erected In 1974, two demountables were erected

on the playground behind the church to on the playground behind the church to

house the overflow.house the overflow.


From the mid 1970s numbers began to From the mid 1970s numbers began to

decline as family composition in the area decline as family composition in the area

changed. Boys had initially been told to changed. Boys had initially been told to

enrol in boysenrol in boys’’ colleges or state schools colleges or state schools

after grade 3, later after grade 4. The after grade 3, later after grade 4. The

classes from grade 5 to 7 only contained classes from grade 5 to 7 only contained

girls. It wasngirls. It wasn’’t until 1977 that boys were t until 1977 that boys were

allowed to stay to Year 7 starting with the allowed to stay to Year 7 starting with the

Year 5 intake.Year 5 intake.

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